The opening day of the Poland Darts Open delivered a mix of thrilling encounters and early exits. German hopefuls Niko Springer and Marvin Kraft both faced defeats, struggling to find their rhythm against strong opponents. Meanwhile, local hero Krzysztof Ratajski kept the Polish flag flying high with a resilient victory, setting the stage for an exciting second day as the 16 seeded players prepare to join the fray.
German Players Face Uphill Battle
Two German players took to the stage in Krakow, but neither managed to secure a victory. Niko Springer was defeated 3-6 by Spain’s Cristo Reyes, primarily due to significant scoring issues. Reyes started incredibly strong, hitting 12 and two 15-dart legs consecutively to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Springer showed flashes of brilliance, narrowing the gap to 3-5 with an 11-dart leg, but Reyes ultimately sealed a deserved win on double 18, demonstrating superior scoring throughout the match.
In his European Tour debut, a determined Marvin Kraft put up a good fight against Mike de Decker but eventually lost 4-6. The 25-year-old managed to claim four legs, including a 78-point checkout for his first leg win. While De Decker maintained an 83 average, Kraft battled hard, hitting two 18-dart legs late in the match. However, De Decker secured the victory on double 8, leaving Kraft with 90 remaining.
Polish Pride: Ratajski Advances, Kciuk Exits
The hopes of the home crowd now rest solely on the shoulders of Krzysztof Ratajski. ‘The Polish Eagle’ navigated a challenging opening match against Mickey Mansell, who played with a strong 98 average and applied considerable pressure. However, backed by the roaring fans, Ratajski secured an early break and held onto it, eventually closing out the match 6-3 on double 18, much to the delight of the Polish supporters.
Unfortunately, fellow Pole Krzysztof Kciuk was eliminated, falling 2-6 to Joe Cullen. ‘The Rockstar’ Cullen displayed impressive form with an average of nearly 100, a level Kciuk found difficult to match.
Upsets and Close Shaves: Other Key Matches
- Scutt Stuns Heta: In a minor upset, Connor Scutt defeated Damon Heta 6-4. Despite Heta hitting a spectacular 167 checkout to level at 4-4, Scutt responded with a 106 checkout and a 12-dart leg to secure the win. Heta’s slow start, falling 0-4 behind, proved too much to overcome.
- Gawlas’s Strong Return: Adam Gawlas made a highly successful return to the European Tour, beating Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3. ‘Flawlas’ stormed into a 4-0 lead. Although van Duijvenbode fought back, missing too many crucial checkouts ultimately cost him, allowing Gawlas to secure the win with an 89 average.
- Missed Opportunities for Lovely and Robak: Thomas Lovely suffered his fourth consecutive first-round exit on the Euro Tour, losing 3-6 to Wessel Nijman. Lovely’s dismal 12% success rate on doubles proved his undoing, despite Nijman’s modest 88 average. Similarly, local player Dawid Robak struggled significantly on his doubles, hitting only 1 of 15 attempts, leading to a comfortable 6-1 victory for Daryl Gurney, even with Gurney not playing his best darts.
What’s Next? Seeds Enter the Fray
The second day of the Poland Darts Open 2026 will see the much-anticipated entry of the 16 seeded players. These top-ranked competitors will join the winners from the first round, significantly raising the stakes and quality of play. The tournament features a total prize fund of £230,000, with the champion taking home a substantial £35,000.
Prize Money Rules Explained
An important rule for all 32 pre-qualified players (via the PDC Order of Merit and Pro Tour Order of Merit) is that their prize money only counts towards the respective ranking lists if they win their opening match. If they lose their first game, they still receive the prize money, but it does not contribute to the PDC Order of Merit, European Tour Order of Merit, or Pro Tour Order of Merit.
- Winner: £35,000
- Runner-Up: £15,000
- Semi-Finals: £10,000
- Quarter-Finals: £8,000
- Last 16: £5,000
- Last 32 (2nd Round): £3,500
- Last 64 (1st Round): £2,000
Darts fans can typically follow the action live on major sports streaming services, which often provide extensive coverage of European Tour events.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
